But now, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is proposing even fewer parking spaces in the future and as you might imagine, there are a lot not too happy with that plan.

Jai Wexler hit the jackpot Tuesday as she was running errands. She found parking on her first try.

It's why she's running errands in Ballard instead of crowded Downtown Seattle.

"I just came here because I wanted to get some lunch and it's easy to park," she said. "And I go to yoga there because it's easy to park... Easier than downtown. It would be really bad for business to make it harder."

Crystal Carlson couldn't agree more. Parking in front of her bustling bread business is already at a premium. Now, she worries about Mayor Nickel's proposal for fewer spaces.

"For every car that's parked on the street for even an hour, I have multiple customers who pass by and who maybe would stop if that space was open," she said.

Nickels says he wants to make our city more livable. When new condos go up anyplace out of the downtown core, they won't have to build as many parking spaces for residents.

So, many worry those extra cars will wind up on the street, creating a terrible crunch.

To discourage that, the plan proposes less free street parking and more meters with a maximum two hour limit.

Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck supports the idea, but expects a fight.

"It is a hot button, an emotional thing for a lot of people," he said. " 'Don't take away my parking' but we just can't go on forever with our love affair with the automobile."

Seattle residents own 255,000 cars. The ultimate goal is to encourage people to give them up and use mass transit.

Carlson isn't sure that's realistic. She says city leaders must find a balance.

"If it takes you 20 minutes to drive from Lynnwood now but it takes you an hour and a half to take the bus, no one's going to take the bus."